FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 9, 2019 haga click para español

‘SOMOS’ NAMED ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR BY THE 2019 DOMINICAN DAY PARADE FOR LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR LATINOS IN CITY

SOMOS, ’s Multi-Cultural Physician-Led Network of Doctors, Reaffirms Commitment to Improving the Health and Wellness of New York City’s Immigrant Communities by Closing Access to Care Gaps

200 SOMOS Doctors and Community Health Workers to Walk in the 2019 Dominican Day Parade

New York, NY – SOMOS - a non-profit, physician-led network of over 2,500 health care providers primarily serving immigrant communities in New York City – today announced that it has been honored with the Organization of the Year Award presented by the Board of the Dominican Day Parade. SOMOS, along with other notable Latino community leaders, will be honored during the Dominican Day Parade Gala on Friday, August 9.

“At SOMOS, we’re working every day to improve the delivery of health care for New York’s Dominican community with doctors that speak our language and understand our culture,” said Dr. Ramon Tallaj, Chairman of SOMOS. “As a Dominican immigrant myself, it’s an overwhelming honor to have the life-changing work done by SOMOS recognized by the Dominican Day Parade, but we know our work is only getting started. We have to keep fighting together as one to make all immigrant communities healthier and break down the barriers to quality health care that too many Dominican families still face.”

The Dominican Day Parade also offers more than $125,000 in education scholarship to Dominican youths that have displayed a commitment to learning about their ancestry through community service. The organization has set an ambitious scholarship goal to raise $1,000,000 for Dominican-American youths pursuing higher education. “SOMOS is a shining example of the kind of leadership and commitment that we need from our health care partners to improve the lives of Dominicans and other immigrant communities in New York City,” said Wilton Cedeño, Dominican Day Parade Board President. “SOMOS doctors and their community health workers understand the culture and speak the language of our community members, and they have been able to help ensure all New Yorkers – regardless of where they come from – have real access to quality, affordable care. I want to thank Dr. Tallaj and SOMOS for the major impact they are making every day and look forward to our continued partnership.”

For more than three decades, the Dominican Day Parade has been a staple in New York City’s community, where hundreds of thousands of people gather to celebrate the heritage and richness of the Caribbean culture. The pre-parade gala is an opportunity to celebrate these rich traditions while recognizing the contributions that Dominican-American leaders across several industries have made to improving the lives of Dominicans in New York City.

Click here to learn more about the SOMOS and Dominican Day Parade partnership

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About SOMOS: SOMOS is a non-profit, physician-led network of over 2,500 health care providers serving over 700,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in New York City. Launched in 2015 by its Chairman Dr. Ramon Tallaj, SOMOS is the largest and only physician-led performance provider system participating in the New York State Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP). The SOMOS network includes providers delivering culturally competent care to patients in some of New York City’s most vulnerable populations, particularly Latino, Asian, African-American and immigrant communities throughout , Brooklyn, and Queens.